The US Open will crown a new men’s singles champion for the first time after Carlos Alcaraz was knocked out by Ben Shelton in the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows.
Alcaraz’s defeat means none of the remaining players in the draw have previously lifted the men’s singles trophy in New York, guaranteeing a new US Open champion on Sunday.
It represents a dramatic change from recent years, with Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner having shared the past three titles between them.
Alcaraz won his second US Open crown last year after defeating Sinner in the final, having previously captured his maiden Grand Slam title in New York in 2022.
Sinner, the 2024 champion, was unable to challenge for another title this year after withdrawing before the tournament because of a knee injury.
Novak Djokovic’s shock first-round defeat to Mariano Navone removed another former champion from the draw, while 2014 winner Marin Cilic withdrew and 2016 champion Stan Wawrinka failed to progress beyond the first round.
That left Alcaraz as the last former US Open champion standing before Shelton brought his title defence to an end.
The result has opened up the men’s draw considerably, with Shelton joining Frances Tiafoe in the semi-finals alongside two more players still to emerge from the remaining quarter-finals.
Tiafoe booked his place in the final four after producing a remarkable comeback from two sets down to defeat fellow American Alex Michelsen in five sets.
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Karen Khachanov faces Belgian breakthrough star Alexander Blockx in one of the remaining quarter-finals, while Alexander Zverev takes on Botic van de Zandschulp in the other.
Of the remaining contenders, Zverev is the only player to have previously reached a US Open men’s singles final, having finished runner-up to Dominic Thiem in 2020.
Watch the closing stages of the 2026 US Open live on SPOTV NOW.
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